Vera A. (Rogers) Holzapfel

Vera A. Holzapfel, age 90, of Mankato, died peacefully, Sunday, August 14, 2022, after a brief illness.

Funeral Service 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 20, 2022,  at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church, North Mankato. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Friday at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, Mankato.  Memorials may be given to St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church or Mayo Hospice – Mankato.  The family asks you to wear something purple in celebration of Vera’s life and love of purple.

Vera Arlene, the oldest of four children, was born November 19, 1931, to Ivan J. and Olive E. (Chamberlain) Rogers on the Tony Tiedeken farm near Madelia. The family moved to a farm south of Lake Crystal on the Watonwan River and then later to a farm west of Lake Crystal. She graduated from Lake Crystal High School in 1949 and then Mankato Commercial College in 1950. 

Vera then worked in the office of Green Giant in LeSueur until her marriage to Donald W. Holzapfel on November 17, 1951, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato.  After marriage she worked at the Boy Scout Office in Mankato and Feigh Toy Store.  Vera later started sewing custom draperies for Landkamer Furniture Store, Heller’s, Freset Design, Town and Country Interiors, and Zeno’s. 

Vera cherished and loved her family, especially spending time with her grandchildren and taking them places.  She enjoyed flower gardening at her home, nature, bird watching, canning, baking, cooking, gardening, painting ceramics, writing poetry, and her apple collection.  She loved traveling to Hawaii and camping with Don in their 5^th wheel travel trailer. 

Vera is survived by two children, Vickie Conlon, Sharon (Dennis) Dieken all of Mankato; five grandchildren, Jenny Conlon, Mike Conlon, Beth (Eric) Adams, April (Brian) Hopkins, and Alyssa Dieken; great-grandson, Henry Hopkins; three siblings, Duane (Charlotte) Rogers of Lake Crystal,  Audrey (Gus) Degler of Eagan, Helen Owens of Lake Crystal; sister-in-law, Janice Holzapfel of Mesa, AZ; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald on November 4, 2010; son, Michael on May 24, 2020; daughter-in-law, Renee on April 7, 2012; brother-in-law, Lee Owens and extended family.

Vera’s family would like to especially thank her sister, Helen Owens for her love and care and her friends, Jeneane Quame, Jane Tolzmann, Julie and Dan Sonnek for their friendship.  They would also like to thank Home Instead, Mankato Lodge, Mayo Hospital – Mankato, Laurel’s Peak, Mayo Hospice – Mankato, Pastors Nelson and Mellon and Nate Voss of St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church for their care of Vera.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes. Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.